Want more info on Jackson, please. Thanks! (Memphis, Germantown: renters, crime)

[pompanobeachbum]

I am interested in moving to Jackson. I would really appreciate getting info on work options, safety of areas, etc. I know (and love) small town living, so I'm not concerned about having few amenities, but I am concerned about having peace and quiet. I would like to get a cheap place to fix up but want to know about how bad crime is in such areas where I would find the fixer-uppers. I have heard that such areas are improving all the time. Is that true? Also, if and when I-69 goes through, how will that impact Jackson? Does anyone know? Lastly, I've heard about all the colleges and wonder if off-campus student renters bring down property values (with noise, etc.) or if that is not a problem? Thanks.

[Pearlbob]

You may want to post this on the general Tennessee forum as well. Jackson is about 90 minutes from Memphis and I'd think most Memphians have no clue about Jackson unless they have family there or used to live out that way.

What colleges are in Jackson? I honestly can't think of any off the top of my head, although someone might jolt my memory. I wouldn't worry about college students. It's not a college town with 40,000 students or anything like that (THAT I'd know!)

[Kabluey]

Union University is in Jackson. They have a satellite campus in Germantown.

[JMT]

Originally Posted by pompanobeachbum

I am interested in moving to Jackson. I would really appreciate getting info on work options, safety of areas, etc. I know (and love) small town living, so I'm not concerned about having few amenities, but I am concerned about having peace and quiet. I would like to get a cheap place to fix up but want to know about how bad crime is in such areas where I would find the fixer-uppers. I have heard that such areas are improving all the time. Is that true? Also, if and when I-69 goes through, how will that impact Jackson? Does anyone know? Lastly, I've heard about all the colleges and wonder if off-campus student renters bring down property values (with noise, etc.) or if that is not a problem? Thanks.

I-69 isn't going to be anywhere near Jackson. It's going to skirt the edge of West Tennessee between Dyersburg and Memphis, a good 90 miles from Jackson.

I've never been very impressed with Jackson. It's kind of like a mini Memphis but without the history and charm of Memphis. In other words, Jackson has a lot of crime, a lot of blight, and it's flat. The weather in Jackson is hot and muggy, and Jackson has had more than its share of deadly tornadoes the last few years.

Of all the places to live in Tennessee, I wouldn't necessarily pick Jackson. But I can definitely think of worse places, too.

[strumpeace]

I grew up in Jackson. Went to high school and college there. Was just there over the weekend visiting family.

Jackson has three four-year colleges: Union University (Southern Baptist), Lane College (Historically Black), and Lambuth University (United Methodist), which is my alma mater.

Not great parts of town: I would stay away from East Jackson. I would also stay away from Hollywood Drive and all the streets that run off it all the way from I-40 to Airways Blvd. East Jackson is improving somewhat, as some faith-based groups have built new housing and have tried to fix the area up. The Hollywood corridor is getting worse, though.

The area north of I-40 is where it's at right now. In fact, north Jackson's growth has spilled over into Gibson County. Medina in Gibson County is the hottest thing going; Gibson County recently announced that a new high school will be built in Medina, so lots of Madison County folks are moving over the county line for that school and the other schools in Medina. Jackson's schools are on the decline.

With regard to off-campus renters, that shouldn't be a problem. Union has (at last I heard) about 2,500 students. Lane has fewer than 1,000. Lambuth has only 800. All have on-campus housing requirements for students who have no family in the area.

Jackson has a fascinating history.

Jackson--particularly downtown, or at least the part that wasn't crushed by the aforementioned tornadoes--has plenty of charm. I grew up in the Lambuth area of midtown, a part of Jackson that interstate travelers don't see.

It's all the eye of the beholder, I suppose.

Best wishes.

[pompanobeachbum]

Thanks to everyone for your replies, though I must say that the reply from strumpeace "takes the cake" for helpfulness. However, strumpeace did not mention the community college in Jackson, which I think has the largest enrollment. Is it your feeling that those community college students all live at home? I don't imagine the community college has campus housing--?
I'm glad to read your comments about the midtown section. In fact, I was thinking of buying near Lambuth, so I was wondering about that area in particular. I has also heard about the tornadoes, of course, and was kind of fretting about how much of the damage had been repaired. Some areas of southeast Florida, where I am now, are still dealing with problems from the last hurricane damage. I figured that, hopefully, statistically speaking, Jackson would be tornado-free for a few years. One can never tell, really, but it was a thought. I wish I could afford to consider the nicer area north of 40 but I cannot. So, I was hoping the Lambuth area west of Highland might be OK. Sounds like strumpeace is suggesting that is the case. Strumpeace, can you say more about the "fascinating history" of Jackson? Thanks very much. [I will also follow-up on the suggestion about posting the question about Jackson in the general Tennessee area of this site.] Thanks all.

[Pearlbob]

I think strumpeace or someone else mentioned that of the 3 small schools in Jackson, the biggest one had only 1200 students. That's small. When I think of an area being over-run by college students, I think of a school with 30,000 students. Not 1200. You'd barely notice that, if at all.

Jackson gets tornados every year. Of course, not IN the city, but in the genearl area. Memphis tends to not get any because of our situation on the bluff/river apparently, but the area around Jackson is very flat. But it is nothing to be worried about. Every state has it's weather problems, like you mentioned hurricanes in Florida. Millions of people still live in FL despite the obvious threat of hurricanes every year. Same goes with this area.

[pompanobeachbum]

JMT- Thanks for the info re: I-69. I have relatives in Dyersburg and they are concerned with how it will impact them. More crime usually comes with new major roadways.
I actually am not all that super impressed with what I could find out about Jackson either but have been considering it as a not too bad alternative because of having family in Dyersburg and I want to be closer to them, yet may be needing to work some in my retirement. There seems to be little employment opportunity in Dyersburg, though I must admit I have only visited in the general area for very short periods every 4 or 5 years or so. Since I have formerly taught school, I thought it would be good to live in an area containing a good number of choices of schools and colleges. I definitely do not want to be in Memphis. Any other suggestions of areas with multiple schools?

[strumpeace]

RE Jackson State Community College -- It does have somewhere in the 3,000-4,000 range. However, I would venture that most of the students there are part-time, many with careers already. The college has a career center that attracts folks from the factories in town looking to get a leg up on their co-workers. JSCC also has lots of medical training; a good half of its students are enrolled in one of the medical programs. JSCC has no housing, so most of the students are local and either live at home or are old enough and established enough in their own careers that they have homes of their own.

The Lambuth area is ripe with good housing opportunities. The homes are affordable, and there are some real gems in that area. If you're willing to invest a little on a fixer-upper, you can find some real bargains. Streets with good bargains near Lambuth: Arlington, Westmoreland, Division, Wisdom, Campbell, Lambuth, Park, Crescent. If you find something else on another street, let me know, and I'll try to help. Like Memphis, one street can be sketchy, while the next street is great.

History in Jackson -- Davy Crockett's 'The rest of you can go to hell...' speech was delivered at the Madison County courthouse in Downtown Jackson. Adam Huntsman was the peg-leg Congressman who succeeded Crockett; Huntsman was quite the character, too. Lots of music has come out of Jackson, or at least lots of musical personalities have come out of Jackson: Issac Hayes, Luther Ingram, Carl Perkins, Wink Martindale.

There's a great book called Jackson and Madison County: A Pictorial History. It gives a fascinating overview of Jackson's history.

[pompanobeachbum]

I used to watch "Davy, Davy Crockett, king of the wild frontier" when I was small. I guess admitting that really ages me, even though what I saw were re-runs. He wore a racoon hat, didn't he? LOL, I haven't thought about that for years and years. Thanks for the memories.
Speaking of history, where can I find out about the historical societies in the Jackson area, specifically the names of them and about their activities, programs? Thanks. [I'll check into the book you recommended.]